On a sandy river bank, a modest school crowned with a roof of solar panels tells another story: one of resilience, ingenuity and hope for the next generation.
A school built for the future
For three years, the Maria Naura Gouvêa municipal school has been one of the COP30The central themes of: adaptation.
Its flood and erosion resistant walls, insulated roof, solar energy systems and satellite internet make it a rare refuge. A 150 meter well guarantees clean water – a luxury in many parts of the region.
During our visit, Kamal Kishore, head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), called the school a “beacon,” adding: “I would like to see at least 100,000 schools like this around the world. »
Droughts, erosion and rising water levels
Barcarena Mayor Renato Ogawa explained that the climate impacts here are subtle, but disruptive:
“The main event is the dryness of the rivers and streams. One week the students manage to arrive by boat; the next week, due to tidal variations, they cannot arrive at school on time and have to walk along the slopes and freshwater beaches which, due to the rise in sea level, have started to flood, causing erosion.”
Containment walls now line the river banks, but Ogawa warned: “If nothing is done, over the years we will have to raise and expand this wall.” »
Rising sea levels also change fish movements, threatening local diets as river water becomes saltier.
These challenges have pushed Barcarena to the forefront of climate adaptation, earning him global recognition.
For three years, the Maria Naura Gouvêa Municipal School, in Pará, Brazil, has been putting into practice one of the themes discussed at COP30: adaptation to a world full of dangerous climatic events.
Local leadership on the global stage
In 2023, Barcarena became the 25th place in the world Resilience Center – and the first in the Amazon. These hubs identified by UNDRR are cities recognized for their strong experience in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and they are committed to mentoring other municipalities by sharing practical solutions and expertise.
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach highlighted why COP30 must amplify voices like Mr Ogawa’s: “We need to protect people to protect the planet. And another key point is the importance of local governments, local action and local leadership.”
Recognition, she added, is not enough: “It must be accompanied by solid and robust implementation mechanisms.”
“An exception in the Amazon”
Brazilian Cities Minister Jader Filho praised Barcarena’s progress but noted: “The school is an exception and does not reflect the educational reality of the broader Amazon. But it shows what is possible when funding and political will align.”
Students presented projects turning cooking oil into soap, creating natural dyes from vegetables and planting trees to beat the heat.
Lyndisse Wandra Santos summed up their spirit: “Each tree planted is a gesture of love and hope; adapting means continuing to move forward despite difficulties. »
Kamal Kishore said he was inspired by their vision: “Brazil is a success story,” he noted, citing more than 2,000 cities around the world in the For Resilient Cities campaign, many of which are Brazilian.
The legacy of COP30 in Barcarena
Mayor Ogawa revealed that COP30 has already accelerated investments: “By the end of the year, we will achieve 90 percent wastewater treatment and 95 percent drinking water coverage of the municipality. Otherwise, these targets would take 10 to 15 years.”
Next on his agenda: the transition of public transport boats to clean energy.
UN-Habitat Government leader Ms Rossbach warned that similar investments are urgently needed elsewhere, particularly in housing, as millions of people live in precarious conditions in the face of growing climate threats.
From the “Forest COP” to the “Cities COP”
She spoke of the Maré slum in Rio, where temperatures can regularly rise 6°C above the city average, according to data collected by residents themselves.
His hope is that “this COP Forest [as COP30 is billed because it is being held in Belém, Brazil, near the Amazon rainforest] must also strengthen the urban agenda, prioritizing the protection of the most vulnerable.
As COP30 unfolds in Belém, Barcarena’s story offers a powerful lesson: climate resilience begins at the local level. From solar-powered classrooms to student-led projects, this Amazon municipality shows that adaptation is not only possible: it’s already happening. And in a world facing rising seas and changing tides, these lessons are more important than ever.
UN NewsEastreport from Belémgiving you front row coverage of everything happening at COP30.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
